The numbers of MBA students using their degree as a ticket into investment banking or private equity have fallen sharply during the financial crisis.

Harvard Business School said 11% of its most recent crop of MBA graduates had gone to work in private equity, down from a peak for the decade of 17% in 2008, while 31% had gone into finance, down from 45% in 2008 and the lowest level since 2004. Just 6% of Harvard MBAs went into investment banking, compared with 11% in 2007.